The Carer Academic (mental health) position was established at The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University in 2005. This position is half time and funded by DHS’ Mental Health Branch. The establishment of the position follows from moves towards greater recognition and participation of carers and families in the mental health system. Its purpose is to develop a more coherent and productive position in terms of acknowledging the situation of carers and families living with mental illness and service system impacts and responses.
The position has a leading role in better understanding, articulating and supporting carers/families, mental health services and the community to establish working partnerships in caring for people with a mental illness. Some of the core objectives of the position are to:
- Facilitate better understanding of the experience and significance of carers and the various impacts on ‘families’ living with mental illness;
- Advocate for and represent the experiences of carers/families across a range of activities, including research, education-training and consultation;
- Develop the strategic role of carers and families as active participants in treatment and recovery processes; and
- Support the development of collaborative models and practice that promote participation and service change through carer consultants within mental health services.
These activities will be conducted via research and publication, education and training, as well as active linkages and networks with representative groups and organisations at state and national levels.
The current Carer Academic is Peter McKenzie. His contact details are as follows:
Peter McKenzie
p.mckenzie@latrobe.edu.au
Ph. 9385 5100
Some current activities of the Carer Academic include:
REPRESENTATION
Carer Consultant Network of Victoria:
- Executive member – training coordinator
- Consultation with individual CCs (upon request)
Victorian Mental Health Carer Network:
- Network member
- Member of two working groups
PROJECTS
Consumer & Carer Experience project:
- Reference group
- Working group
- ‘Insider’ Evaluation Research project (in collaboration with consumer academic)
‘Insider’ Evaluation project in collaboration with consumer academic
CONSULTATION
Research Development Consultant to Carer Research and Evaluation Unit
EDUCATION & TRAINING
Dept. of Social Work, La Trobe University: curriculum development and delivery of ‘fields of practice’ elective on caring
‘Fostering Realistic Hope’: pilot workshop series for carer families living with Borderline Personality Disorder (with research/evaluation project)
Mental Health Workforce Development - Carer Consultant Training Project
